For months, Mexican and Canadian professionals watched the calendar for July 1, 2026, the date of the first formal review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The TN visa exists because of that agreement, so the review raised a real question: would the TN survive? The review has now happened, and the short answer is reassuring for today and worth planning around for tomorrow.
Lozano Law Firm advises TN professionals and the Texas employers who hire them. Our managing attorney, Alfredo Lozano, is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and attended Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, and our bilingual team follows every development that affects cross-border professionals. Learn more about our TN visa services, or request a free case evaluation.
What Happened at the USMCA Review?
Quick answer: At the July 1, 2026 joint review, the United States declined to renew USMCA in its current form, but the agreement did not end. It remains in force, the TN visa rules did not change, and TN professionals can still apply, renew and extend as before. Unless the countries agree to extend it, USMCA is now scheduled to end on July 1, 2036, with annual reviews in the meantime.
USMCA, which replaced NAFTA in 2020, has a 16-year term. Article 34.7 of the agreement required the three countries to meet on its sixth anniversary to decide whether to extend it for another 16 years. The United States Trade Representative confirmed after the July 1 meeting that the United States did not agree to renew the agreement in its current form and would keep negotiating with Mexico and Canada. In October 2026, the Trade Representative published a notice about the next annual review in 2027.
What It Means for TN Visa Holders Today
- Your TN status is unchanged. Current TN approvals and visas remain valid until they expire.
- New TN applications continue. Mexican citizens still apply for TN visas at U.S. consulates, and Canadians still apply at the border or a preclearance location.
- Renewals and extensions continue. TN status can still be granted for up to three years at a time.
- The professions list is the same. The 63 USMCA professions and their requirements did not change in the review.
The practical changes TN applicants have felt in 2026 came from somewhere else: visa processing rules.
The TN Changes That Did Happen
Online presence review
Since October 1, 2026, the State Department has included TN and TD visa applicants in its review of applicants’ online presence. Applicants are asked to set their social media profiles to public so consular officers can review them. For Mexican professionals, that means the résumé, the employer letter and the public profile should all tell the same story.
In-person interviews
The State Department narrowed interview waivers in 2025, so most Mexican TN applicants, including many renewals, should expect an in-person interview at a U.S. consulate. Applicants must generally apply in their country of nationality or residence.
Stricter USCIS guidance on professions
In 2025, USCIS issued detailed guidance on TN professions. It confirmed that self-employment does not qualify, that engineers need a qualifying engineering degree related to the job, that computer systems analysts cannot be primarily programmers and that economists do not include market research or financial analysts. Our TN professions guide explains each category.
Key Dates for TN Professionals
| Date | What happened | Effect on TN |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | USMCA replaced NAFTA | The TN carried over with the same professions |
| 2025 | USCIS issued detailed TN guidance, and the State Department narrowed interview waivers | Stricter reading of professions and more in-person interviews |
| July 1, 2026 | First joint review; the United States declined to renew in the current form | No change to TN rules |
| October 1, 2026 | Online presence review expanded to TN and TD visa applicants | Public social media profiles requested at the consulate |
| Each July | Annual joint reviews continue while the agreement runs without an extension | A chance for negotiated changes |
| July 1, 2036 | Scheduled end of USMCA unless extended | The outside date for planning |
Mexican and Canadian TN Workers Feel the Changes Differently
Canadian citizens usually do not need a visa stamp. They apply for TN status at a port of entry or a preclearance location, so the State Department’s consular rules rarely touch them directly. Mexican citizens must first obtain a TN visa at a U.S. consulate, which means the interview, the online presence review and appointment wait times all apply. In practice, that makes planning more important for Mexican professionals. A renewal that once took a short trip can now take weeks of lead time, so we encourage clients to start renewals well before their current TN approval ends and to avoid scheduling international travel close to an expiration date.
What Could Happen Next
Nobody can predict trade negotiations, but the structure of the agreement gives everyone time. Here are the realistic scenarios.
- A renegotiated agreement. The countries could agree on changes and extend USMCA. Professional mobility has been part of every North American trade deal since 1994, so a TN-like category would likely remain, possibly with changes.
- Annual reviews with no extension. If the countries keep reviewing without agreeing, USMCA continues until July 1, 2036, and the TN continues with it unless the rules change.
- Withdrawal. Any country can give six months’ notice to withdraw. No country has announced that, and it would be a major economic event with consequences well beyond immigration.
What TN Professionals Should Do Now
- Keep your documents current. Degree, licenciatura, cédula profesional and licenses should be ready for every renewal.
- Make sure your job matches your TN profession. The 2025 guidance makes job titles that stretch the category riskier.
- Align your online profiles. Your public profile should be consistent with your application.
- Think about the long term. If you want to stay in the United States, a green card plan, or a move to dual-intent H-1B status, protects you from future trade changes. See our guide to going from TN visa to green card.
What Employers Should Do Now
- Inventory your TN workforce. Know who is on TN status, when each approval ends and which workers are critical.
- Review job descriptions. Make sure each TN role clearly fits its profession under the 2025 guidance.
- Plan green cards for key employees. PERM takes more than a year, so starting now gives you time. Our guide to PERM processing time explains the stages.
- Consider alternatives. Depending on the worker, the H-1B, L-1 or E visas may offer more stability.
Why This Matters So Much in Texas
Texas does more trade with Mexico than any other state, and the TN supports that trade every day: engineers in Monterrey’s supplier network, nurses in San Antonio hospitals, accountants and analysts working for companies with offices on both sides of the border. From San Antonio and Eagle Pass, we help those professionals and employers make sure a trade negotiation never turns into a gap in someone’s career. Employers can also review our business immigration services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the USMCA review end the TN visa?
No. The United States declined to renew USMCA in its current form on July 1, 2026, but the agreement remains in force and the TN rules did not change.
When does USMCA expire now?
Unless the countries agree to extend it, USMCA is scheduled to end on July 1, 2036. The countries review it every year until then.
Can I still renew my TN visa?
Yes. TN renewals and extensions continue normally, with up to three years granted at a time. Mexican applicants should expect an in-person consular interview and the online presence review.
What is the TN online presence review?
Since October 1, 2026, the State Department reviews TN and TD visa applicants’ public online presence and asks them to make their social media profiles public. It does not change who qualifies, but inconsistencies can raise questions.
Should I apply for a green card because of the review?
If you plan to stay long term, a green card plan makes sense regardless of the review. It removes your future from trade negotiations, though it must be timed carefully because the TN does not allow immigrant intent.
Are Canadian TN workers affected differently?
Canadians usually do not need a visa stamp, so the consular rules affect them less, but the USMCA developments apply equally to both countries.
Plan Ahead With a Board Certified Immigration Lawyer
The USMCA review did not change the TN, but it was a reminder that temporary status depends on decisions you do not control. A clear plan puts more of your future in your own hands.
Alfredo Lozano is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a Marine Corps veteran and a member of the State Bar of Texas, the San Antonio Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Our bilingual team has served cross-border professionals and Texas employers since 2006.
Request your free case evaluation and we will review your TN status, your renewal timeline and your long-term options, in English or Spanish.
